My husband wants to use our child for money ritual –Prophetess

By Seye Fakinlede
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An Akure-based Prophetess,   Omolade Timothy,  has prayed a Grade A Customary Court sitting in Akure  to  dissolve her 8-year-old traditional marriage on the grounds that her  husband,  who is a police officer  wanted to use her first child for rituals.

The plaintiff, Omolade,  who resides at  No. 15, Ilotin Area, Ijoka Akure, told the court  that her marriage became unbearable after  she  gave birth to her first child in 2012.

According to her, the traditional marriage  held in the year 2011, produced two minors ages, 7 and 5, (names withheld).

With a crescendo pitch, and a sullen look,  she  told the court that, ” Shortly after my first child, my husband began to drink excessively, despite my plea to him to stop, he daily became worse. And  immediately after the birth of my second child in 2014, he began to beat me  because I failed to comply with his instruction that we  use our first child for money ritual.”

She alleged that on January 4, 2015, she was tear-gased and received  heavy beatings for not complying.

Panting, her head covered with a white silk turban, she said, ” I cannot forget that date because it is very fresh in my memory “.

She  further  alleged that  the man ejected her on January 6, 2015, after he gave her a 7-day ultimatum to agree or face the consequences.

“I have been relocating from one area to another in Akure over same threat which was followed by two arrests, humiliation and beating whenever he discovered where I resided, while  accusing  me of  trying to separate him from his children.

“ After an arrest  in March 6, 2016, and having  been  told to go settle  our  differences by the DPO incharge of Fanibi police station, in Fanibi Area Police Command,  our  families were invited. But  my family was the only party present.

“He said drinking is  his family, and that  could not quit. But I cannot open up  and tell my family the main issue behind the quarrel.”

“Sometimes in May , 2019, he did the same thing after I sent him a text to pay his children  school fees. He came to where I was residing. I cannot tell how he located me, but he got me arrested and detained .

“There, he was also told to pay his children school fees at ‘A’. Division by the D.P.O, but he bluntly refused. So I decided to run to the court to be avenged, so that he would not use his position as a police officer to cheat me. “

She, therefore, prayed the court to grant her the custody of the children.

The plaintiff’s counsel, Emmanuel Bamiduro, during cross-examination, inquired if the defendant paid the children school fees. The petitioner replied, “He used to pay half before. But since 2016, I have been paying their school fees.”

The Hope Metro learnt  that the respondent, Paul Timothy, a police officer, was absent at the hearing after being served three hearing notices.

The President of the Court, Mr. Akinseye Akindele, asked the petitioiner if she was detained more than a-day during those arrests. But  she answered in the negative.

He, therefore, adjourned the case till August 14, 2019 for judgement.